A dozen protesters banged pots and pans as they marched from Parrsboro’s old post office up and down Main Street today to protest against Canada’s so-called Anti-Terror Bill C-51. The proposed legislation would give the government sweeping new powers of surveillance and arrest.

“We’re frightened by this bill, which would limit our freedoms to speak out as Canadians on issues that are important to us,” said Judith Bauer who helped organize the protest.

Bill C-51, for example, would give federal governments the power to prevent interference with “the economic or financial stability of Canada.” Critics say this would allow the government to prosecute people who attempt to block such projects as hydraulic fracking, the building of new oil pipelines or the logging of old growth forests.

“Anything that disrupts freedom of expression or just general freedoms is vile,” said Harvey Lev, owner of Main and Station, who was the protest’s main organizer. “C-51 is vague, and in its very vagueness, is dangerous.”

Bill C-51 would make it a crime to promote terrorism, but Lev says that could mean anything.

Four former prime ministers and more than 100 academics, mainly law professors, have signed open letters calling for changes to Bill C-51. Among other things, they advocate better safeguards to protect Canadians’ rights to free speech and privacy as well as to oversee the increased powers the bill would give to police and Canada’s spy agencies.

The Parrsboro protest was one of many taking place today across Canada.

8 Responses to Parrsboro protesters say no to ‘police state’ law

well I was surprised to see my old parrsboro post office which I saved from destruction many years ago is the old clock still there like to know what kind of shape building is in now and whats it used for bill mont Halifax 8303732 or email wmont@ns.sympatico.ca

I support Bill C-51. I had a protester say to me that I had a better chance of getting killed by a moose in Canada than by a terrorist attack. My response is, “That’s great. Let’s keep it that way.” Plus I don’t know of any moose plotting terror attacks on Canadians these days. Meanwhile, Islamic leaders have encouraged their followers to attack Canadians in Canada. Lest we forget Neville Chamberlain’s famous, “Peace in our time,” declaration upon returning from Nazi Germany.

Harper is not the criminal. He has no interest in strapping a bomb to his chest and blowing up a supermarket or walking into the Chronicle-Herald offices and shooting anyone who doesn’t agree with him on faith issues. The west is so naïve. I recommend people read Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s book “Infidel” before so quickly labelling Harper a criminal for wanting to prevent terrorism’s carnage and destruction from reaching our shores.

Steve – You’re not catching on too well. Harper is using the pretense of Muslim terrorists as a scare tactic to gain support for his Bill C-51. Don’t be fixated on the terrorism aspect of the bill and loose total view of the many negative aspects that curtail our freedoms. Each small town in Canada has a memorial to their own who died for these freedoms. Bill C-51 is contrary to these freedoms, contrary to the Canadian Bill of Rights and Freedoms and is just another of Mr Harpers imposition of his own misguided wishes – using fear to gain support and acceptance. Give your head a shake.